Signature-gathering machine.



C. AL JUENGST. v' SIGNATURB GATHERING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAB.. 1, 1909.

1,049392. Patented m 7, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

WITNESSES VVENTOR Char/es ..Juengs.

i ATTORNEYS C. A. JUENGST.

SG'ATURE GATHERING MACHINE. APYLIOATION rusia MAB. 1, 1909.

1 049,49, Patented Jan. 7, 1913 6 SEEETB-BHEET 2.

NVENTGH Char/es f?. J 5161291526 T'ORNE 78 U. A. JUENGST. SIGNATUBB GATBERING MACHINE APPLIOATIOH FILE!) MAB. 1, 1909."

19493392, ?atentati Jan. '2, 1913.

5 SKEETS-EHEBT 4.

INVE/VTOR e Char/es 46'. Jueazs.

ATM/M E ?8 C. A. JUBNGST.,

SIGNATURE GATHBRING MAGHINE. APPLIOATION PILED MAR 1, 1909.

Patented Jan.. 7, 1913.

5 SHBBTS-SHEET 6.

W/TAESSES AT T ORNE VS UNITED OFFICE.

CHARLES A. JUENGST, OF CROTON FALLS, NEW YORK.

SIGNATURE-GTHEBING MACHINE.

Specifiction of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1, 1909. Serial No. &80,591.

tures handled by the machine, or certain' other abnormal conditions n the operation of the machines-and also to the stop mechanism for nterrupting the operation of the machine when any abnormal conditions occur.

, One ob ect of the nventon s to increase the eiiiciency of the detector mechanism by,

rendering it more 'sensitive andmore positive in its oneration.

Another object of-the invention is to simplify and in'prove the stop'mechanism.

,In signature e athering machines the conditions under which the machine must operate vary quitefrequently and the same ditions. `heen accomplished by hand that is, by

machine is called upon at diiierent times to handle'signatures which are ot' a ditterent' thickness. For thisreason a signature gathe'ing machine, to be practical, must be capahle of adjustment tomeet these V'arying con- Heretofore this adjustment has means of set screws and similar hand-Opernted devices.

.lt is one of the objects of my intention to :ecomplish this adjustment of the machine tor signatures ofdifi'erent thicknesses, auto: natically.

As is well known in the art` a signature gatlering machine consists primarily of a number of boxes or hoppers which receive each a stuck of. signatures, a traveling auron or conveyer and a delivery device, usually in the shane of 'signature grippers, i'or Conveying the signatures from the hoppers and'd'epositing them 'upon the conveyein Also there is `associated With each gripper ,or delivery device certainmechanism for detecting any imperfect signatures handled by the grpper, or for detecting other abnormal condition in the operation of the machine, so' that. in case' the grnper should take two signatures, or should fail to take ;tu /*signatute, or if the signature should he either too t hick or too thin, the detector device will detect this abnormal condition and act upon certain parts to stop the machine, or to otherwise give warning oft-he existence of such abnormal conditions. handled by" the machine vary in thickness, for instance, the signatures for one run ot' the machine may he -all of eight page thickm ness, While for another job the signatures handled by the machine may be only of two page thickness. In some cases, too, the sig-` nat-ures contained in the different hoppers of the machine will be different in thiclmess. As the detector mechanism is designed to d-etect.any variation from a predetermined thickness of signature,.it -Will be evident, from What has been said, that this detector mechanism must be capable of such adjustmentas to adapt it to these varying conditions. This detector mehanism usually consists of a member having a gate opening therein, and known as a gate member and a trip member or detector'fingerfi as 'it is commonly called, which is positioned according to the thickness of the material in the gripper j aws so as to pass through the opening' -in the gate member when the signature in the gripper jaws is of the proper predetermined thickness. 'The a'djustment of the detector mechanism to adapt the ma- -chine for handling difl'erent thicknesses of signatures is usually made' by adjust-ing the detector finger with relation to the gate member, or the gate member With relation to the detector finger, or in fact by adjusting' either or both` of the members. For the purpose of this adjustnent, the gate member has usually been made 'in two parts. which are adjustable with' relation "to each other, and usually an adjustable connection has been nterposed between thegripper ja ws and the detector finger, so that eitheeone or both the detector finger and ;rate member may be adjusted When changing from 'one size of signature to another size. The dtector mechanism of eachgripper has to be adjusted accordingto the thick-` ne s of the signatures e ntained-in the hoppeflot thategripper. As a signature gatherng machine has anywhereifrom tento forty and even more hoppers and-correlated` zrippes and detector mechanisms, it will be evidon that the adjustment of such a ma- 'chiieflto signstures of diiiernt thicknesses takes mnisiderble time, and a great deal of caremusthe,exercsed in, adjusting the Patented Jan. '7, 1913.

The signatures (llvt'lni' nechanisms, in order that such neclanisns'Will detecteven the slightest variation in the thickness of' the signatures. Great accuracv is necessary to this adjustment and in order to get the proper adjustm nt the parts of thedetector nechanism usuilly have to be adjustcd and rc-adjusted by handuntil the parts operate-'truly to detect any variation from the predetermined thickness. The necessity for this delicate hand adjustnient has always been an objectionable feature, since a great deal of time is necessarily wasted in obtaining the proper adjustment. ,i With my improved machine, according to the present invention, the detector mechanism is adjsted automatically to signatures "of different thicknesses, and the former nccessity for hand adjustmcnt is entirely obviated.

Inits profet-red form, this improved de tector mechanism consists of a signature deamy dcvice in the form of gripper jaws, rolls, or similar means..capacitated to measure the thickness ot' the signatures in the grip of the delivery'device, a detector finge or trip member which is connected to the delivery device so as to be positioned thereby, a gate member having an opening for the passage` of the trip member therethrough, and a ga e device which is' ada ted to receive a. signature of the'desire thickness, and which is connected to the gate member so that when the signature in the delivery device .is of the same size as that in the gege device, the two parts of the detector mechanism will be properly positioned with respect toeach other and will remain inoperative. The connections between these parts are so proportioned that when the signature of the size which it is desired to be handled by the delivery device is placed in the gage. device, the gate mcmber'is deflected or moved a distance proportionate tpthe thikness of the si 'naturc in the gage device. and the detector nger or trip member is moved or defiected in the same `proportion a distance according to the thickncss of'the material in the delivery device. (The relation of these parts could be, reversed; that is, the tri member could be, positioned by the geget evice and the gate member might. be positioned by the grppcr or delivery dcvice.) Thus to illustrate, if a four page signature is placed in the gage device and a four page signature is taken by the delivcry device, the parts of the detector mechanism will be positioned so as to be inoperative with respect' to each other, and if `the deliver device should fail to tak'ea signature, should take too many signatures, or should take a signature of improper thickncss, then e members of the detectomechaone of t w nism will be improperly positioned with respect to the. other 'member and the two member-s will then fail to properly register and will act to either immedutel or intermediately interrpt the action o the machine, or to otherwise give notice of the existence of the abnormal condition. The machine is thus adjusted to signatures of a different thickness by simply inserting in the gage device a signature of the proper sizc to be handled by the gripper. The gage device is preferably located with rclation to the particular hopper and delivery device so that the signature in the gagc device will serve as a sgnal or indicator of the signatures in that particular box. The gag signature, as it may properly bc called, thus serves also as a guide to the attendant to assist in placin'g the signature. stacks in their proper boxes orhoppers. The detector iechanism exercises a control over the machine, or at least serves to give notice of any abnormal conditions in the operation ot' the machine. I pretor, howcver, to provide a stop mechanisn, or stop motion, as it is 'sometimes known, which is under the control of the detector mechaism and is actuated thereby to -intcrrupt the operation of the machine when the detector becomes operative, due to the presence of any abnormal condition. This stop mcchanism may take many different forms, but for thispurpuse I prefer to use a pncumatic system in which is located a controller member, the controller member being maintained inactive when conditions in the peumatic system are normal. The pneumatic system may be either a pressure or vacuum system. l prefer, howeve', to use the, vacuun princi le and to provide means such as a fan or. maintaining the proper vacum in the system. Certain means are provided for normally maintair ing thepneumatic system closed or continuous, and these last named means are actuated by the detector mechanism to break the continuity of the pneunatic system. This means for breaking the continuity of the pneumatic system may then, and preferably would, consist of valves in the pncumatic system, which arc opened only when. the dctector mechanisns are act uated. The controlling means would prcfcrabl consist of a cylinder and a piston thei-ein, the piston being maint ined in one position by the normal conditi n of vacuum, or pressure, as

the case ma be, in the pneumatic system,

a corresponding difference in the movement V held hv 'the delive'y tlcvice, one of the gate ber (which trip member is positionedby the 'which it is adjusted and the extension on one &men e in paper which is supposedly of a uniform thiokness there is always a certain` amount of variation, .that. is an inherent yariation 'in the thickness of the paper which it is impossible to overcome by the use of themost; approved methods of paper making. This varation is, of course, very slight, and in a single sheet' it would be practically negligible, but. in a large signatute, such as a sxteen page signature, for insta'nce, this inherent variation might make an appreeiable difference in the thickness of the signature so that onesixteen page signature might vary in thickness from another 'sixteen page signature made of the same "quality of paper. I have provided .means for adjusting the deteetor mechanism' so as to compensafe for this inherent variation in the thiekness ot the paper. This compensating means s preferabiy applied to the gate member of the detector mechanisni, and as preferred, takes-the following 'form: The gafe member is made .in two parts', the paris being pivoted so as to have a common movement and a movement tow a-rd and away from each other. Each of these parte has :in extension by means of part is longer than that on the other part 'l`he movabie member or jew of the gege device is provided with a part which is adapted to contact both the extensions of the gate parte. Thiis when a signature is inserted in the gage 'device the movable member ot the' gagedevice having a common hearing 'en both the extensions on the two gate parte, imparts a bodily or universal movement to both paris of the gate member The extensions of the'two parts being of different lengths and both the extensions being engaged by the same member, there is of the two parts of the 'ate member, depending upon the difference in leverage ot' the two extensions. The proportion of the various associatel paris is preterably such that when a signature is inserted in the gage device and a signature ot' the samesize paris has a movement about 5' per cent. greater than the movement ot the trip memdelivry device) and the other gote part has a movement` 5 per cent. less than the movement o'' the trip member. .a

lt is in'portant to the proper working of lhealetector mechansm that-;the gate opening through whirh the trip member normallvpasscs shall he as small as possible so that the trip member Will just pass through the gte opening when the signatures are of proper size, and Will eigageene of the sides of the gote .opening when there is any veris- .tion in the tl 'ckness of the signatnree. There must, however, be allowed slight elearance tor the trip member v in its movement throughthe gate opening, so that. the very sli ht and inconsequential inherent varietions in the thiclmess ot the single sheet will not cause the stoppage of the machine. The eempensating mechanism provides for this necessary amount of clearance. The thickness of a sheetof paper inthe sheet delivery device communicates a movement to the detectofinger or trip member directly proportionate to such thickness, while the thickness ot' a single sheet of paper in the gage device causes movement to be communicated to the two paris of the gale member in different ratios, one of the parts of the gate member being moved about 5 per cent. more than would he proportionzte to the single thicknessof signature, and the other gate part being moved a distance' about 5 per cent. less than would be directly proportioate to the thickness ot' a single sheet in the gage device. This Variance in the movement ot' the two gate parts is, of course, very slight and only enough to compensate 'or the inherent variance in the thickness ot' the paper. -ll'hcn small signatures, as tor instance two page signatures, are being han"- dled the variance in the movement of the two gate parts is barely appreoiable, but in the handling of (-unparativelv large signatures, a sixtecu page one for iustance, the Variance is appreciable to such an extent that the combined inherent Wrianees in each sheet of the sixteen pages ot' the signature Llces not efl'ect the operation of the Too detector meohanism. It will be evident. that when a small signature is handled the clearance -tor the detector finge' is very slight, but when ,large signatures are being handled, the clearance is greater, and must be 'so because the inherent variance i'n a sixteen page signature would amount to more than the inherent variunces in a two page signa: ture. This compcnsating device is preferably used in connection with the self-adjusting feature, but the oo-relation of the two paris is not essential, nd the compensating feature may or may not be used, as desirech When there" is :my imperfection in .the signature, the deteotor finger should fail to register with the gate opening in the gate member and should engage one of the sides otthe gate memberand impart movement to the gate member. When this variation or imperfeotion inthe signature is slight as' when a single sheet is missing out of an eight page signature the detector finger may engage only the bare edge of the gate open ing and in such a casethere is a tendency of the detector finger to slip without imparting the proper movement to the gate Inembet. 4 i I e\ further object of my invention is to overcome this objectionable tendency to slip .lld to cause t-he'deteetor finger, when it mechanisn, showing the fails to register with the gate opening, to ,positively engage and nipart movement *to r f thegate member. Phsresult l aecomplsh bv JI'OVJtlLU he ate member' with a nvoted latch or log the point of which pro- 1 ot' the trudes slightlw antl forms one edge gate opening. &Flis dog is provided with a :anlike surfaceiso that when the deteetor tinger fails to truly register with the gate opening it will engage the n'otruding point of tne (log and by reason o the cam surface the dog will be shitted over to close or partially close the gale opening, and a further movement of the tletector finger will impart movement to the gate member itself. i ln the aecompanyin drawings are illustratcd several prefere embodiments of the invention, but various changes and moditications may be made therein without de parting from the scope of the invention. Also while I have described the various features of the invention as associated with and forming a part of a signature gathering machine, still .l would have it understood that the various features of the invention are not necessarily limited to this use, and they may be employed wherever practicable.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a signature gathering machine of a well known type (Patent No. 761390) with my improvements applied thei-eto, only one ot the signature grippers being shown in this View, and the gripper and assoeiated parts appeal-ing in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detached detail view of the gripper and tletector gripper in both the ser/;ing and releasing positions. Figs. 3, i, 5 and ti are detail Views of various types of signature gathering machines, with my improved detector mechanism atlaptett thereto showing Slg'llfltlll't's iu the act of being calipered. Figs. 3 and 5 iare plan views of Figs. 3 and respectivelgr. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical View of the electrieal contact means assooiated with the types ot' machines shown in Fgs. 5 and ti. .Figr. b' s a (letached View of a signature c'ripper with a modified form of a detector meehanism, Fig. S is a broken letail View taken on the line S--S ot Fig. S. hin'. t) is a broken detail View of a slight modification of the detector mechan'ism illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig'. 10 a (letached detail 'view ot' a slightly modified construction ot one of the detector 'embers` known as the ;rate member; Fig. 11 is' a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing my improved stop mechanism appliethto a signature gatheriig natlincmnly as much of the machine bein shown as necessary to illustrate the a p ieation of the, stop 'nechanism thereto, F ig. 12 is a View of the controlling cylinder formin a part of the stop mechanism, and whie aetuates the belt-shifting fork or other cnntrolling means. Fig. 13 is a seetional View of the controlling eylintler and the eorrelated parts. Fig. 14 is a broken detail View of a modified :form of gripper jaws. b i

In the drawings like reference characters apply to similar parts throughout the several views The invention will first` be described as a p plietl to a signature gathering machine of the type illustrated 'in my Patent ?61,496 of May 31-, 1904.

One of the signature hoppers 1, of a signature gathering machine is shown at the right in Fig. l and the conveyer appears at the left and is designatetl 2, the conveyer having the suitably spucetl upstanding pins 3, dividing the conveyer into a series of sec-- tions which serve compartments to receive the-gathered signatures. 'l`he gripper lerer 4 is ca'ried by the rock shaft 5 and is oscillated thereby between the signature hopper and the conveyer. The gripper lever has the usual fixed jaw, 6 and the piv- OtOtl jaw 7. The jaws are opened and closed in the usual manner by means of the connected toggle members 8 and 9, the up per toggle being pivotetl to the gripper lever on the center 10 and the link ll serving to communicate motion from the rockerarml to the toggle members. The roeker arm 12 is carried by rock shat't 13 and this rock shaft is operated at the proper time to open and close the gripper jaws. The means for Operating this smaller rock shaft and the larger rock shat't which supports the gripper leverare not shown, as their illustraton is unnecessary for the purpose of this disclosure. w

The detector n'echanism comprises pret? erably a relatively movable detector arm 14, having an aup'ular lug-or finger 15 on the emt thereot', which is so positoned as to truly register with a gate opening 16 in the ;rate member 17, when the signature in the sheet (lelivery device or gripper, as it here shown, is of the proper predetermined thicltness. The -tlOi ector finger must theref'ore save a movement which is related to the move ment ot' the gripper iaws and for this reason the tletectmarm is p'et'erbly earrietl by the npper toggle member. As a matter ot' fact ;it ma form an integral part of the toggle member, as illustrated in the drawing. The gate member is pivotally supported nn the dependent arm tS, which arni is carriml *by the sgnal member 19. `The arm IS'is pret'e'ably hmged to the lower portion of the signal arm at the point 20.

ao that it may swng upward and ontward ip case the detector finger` should contact with the inner face of the gate member.

Thegage device heretofore referrel to is preterably crriel by the sigoal a rmantl in its preferred form consists ot' 'reL-it and movable gripper juuu-.1 i anti i i ,i wutmiltmtmhmi mac en movabl jan? 'of the gage device has an angular extension 23, to the end of 'which is connected a link 24:, the lower end of this linkin turn being pivoted to the gate member at the point-25. -If, now, a signature of 'the size which itis desired shall be handled by' the delivery 'device is inserted in the jaws of the gage device, the gage jaws will be scparated according to the thickness of the signature held therebetw'een. The angular extension of the moyable gage jaW will he defiectedu'pward, carrying with it the link 24, and as this link is pivotally connected to. the gate member, the gate memberswill be swung Upward on its pivotal support 26. Itwill thus be understood that a signature of a certain thiclmess when inserted in the 'Jews of the' gripper device will cause a pro- ,the gate member and theparts will continue in their operation. lt will he' evident that in order to efiect. this proportionate movement of the detector finger and gate member, the ratio'or leverage between the gripper jaws and the one member of the detector mechanism must be equal, or sub- 'stantially equal to the ratio between the gage device and the other member of the cletector mechanism; lation of 'the-levers is best illustrated in Fig: 2, and it will be noted that in this View the lengths A, B, C and D of theleve'rs `forming the delivery part of the etector me'chanism are equal to the lengths A', B', and D' of the levers torming the gege part. of the detector nechanism.

The machine is set for'sgnatures .of .differentthicknesses by simply insertihg a sig nature'of the desired thickness in the jaws of the gage device. The weight. ot :the gate member serves to hold the jaws of' the gege device closed uponthe signature and the jaws may be opened to receive a signature by simply liftingup the outer end of the gate member. It will be evident that if a six page signature, tor instant-e, is inserted in the gege device, that the. gate member will be defiected a certain distance. Now when thelgripper jaws take a six page signature, other things being equai. the detector finger will -be dofiecd a distance equal to the deficction ot the gote member and the detector finger moving back with the signature 'ipner after the signature has been scized by the same Will' register With the. gate opening in the ;rate member and will pass through such opening witlwut afiiect- This proportionate reing the'gate member. It, however, the gripper. jan's should take too many signatures, or should fail to take any signature, or if the signature is greater or less than a six page one, then the deflection of the detector fiuger will be' either greater or less than that of the g ate member and the detector finger will then fail to register with the gate opening and' will contact with the gate member instead of passing through the gate opening therein. The detector finger and gate member may be initially adjusted \vitlT"1'espect to each other. either' by means 'of a turn buckle 27 in the toggle member 8, or by means of the adjustable plates 29 on the gate member which may be adjusted on said member hymeans of the bolts 30 to change the relation and size of the gate opening. After this initial adjustment has once been made, however, in order to change from one size signature to another, it is only necessaryto insert a signature of the desired thinkness in the grip of the gage deviee. The length of thelevers which go to make up 'the detector mechanism may vary as long as' the proportionate 'movement of the two members of the dctector device is the same,

or substantially the same.

The detector mechanism may simply serve to indicate an abnormal condition, such as the missing of a signature, or the presence of a signature of the wrong size, but I prefer te associate 'with the det'ectormechanism means for interrupting thehction of the machine when any such abnormal condition exists. This means preterably consists of a pneumatic system made up of a system of piping 31 and a suction device such as a fan 32 for normally maintaining a vacuum in the pueumatic system., Gontrolling means is associated With this pneumatic system and this 'controlling means preferably is in the shap'e of a cylinder 33, in

which is mounted a pisten 34 carrying the pisten rod 35, which actuates a belt shitting fork 36. The cylinder 33 is included in the piping system as shown in Fig. 13 and the Vacuum created by the fan or other suction device serves to' normally hold the pisten at the inner end ot its stroke( A spring 37 isarranged toexert its force against the suction apniied to the pisten, so that, a's soon s the continuity of the? system is broken at any point and the vacuum is relieved, this spring .willbecome-act ive to thrust the piston utward. This outward movement of the iistnn slil'ts the fork over and the driving belt 38 is shit'ted from the tight pulley :lil on to 'the lo'ose pulley 4-0, both these pulleys being on the drive shaft 41. (lt course a switch or other equivalent contrclling device could be substitutcd for the 'referably extends the full length at the upper part of the machine and at difi'crent points this pipe is provided with ports 49. 'l'hese po'ts are normally closed hy Valves 4:5 on the lower ends of the sign'al arms, and these ralvcs .may be provided with a rube' aslet or packing asshown in the seetional view. The signal ball or weight 44 ou the upper end of the signal arm serves to normally hohl the valve on the l wer end ot' the arm in engagement with thg respectirc port in the pipe system. and ts this is the normal position of the signal arms, the ports are normally closed and the' Vacuum in the system is complete. If, however, the g'ippe' should missa signature. or other abuormal eonditionsin the handling of the signatures should arise. the detector finger will eugage the gate member in the manner before described. and by the continued motiou of the detector. finger the gate member and the signal arme( which it really forms a part, will be rocked over and the valve ou the lower. end of the signal' arm will uneover the corresponding port in the pipe system. .This open port will relieve the vacuum in the system and the shifting spring 37 will become activeand will throw the fork. over, shifting the driring belt onto the loose pulley. i In this way an abnormal condition which the machine is capable of, deteeting will cause the immediate stoppage of the'machine. The machine may again be startedby remedying the abnor mal condition and by rocking the signal farm bacltto its normal position, so as to close the port in the pipe system.

The detector arm is preferably made of consider-able length, so that, a slight movement of the gripper jaws will causea comparatively great movement of the detector tinger. but even under these conditions a slight defeet in the signature taken by the grpper jaws may cause only a comparatively slight movement of/the detector tinger. When the detett in the signature is only slight, therefore, the detector finger may engage only the extreme edge of the gate openin and there would then be a tendency o the finger to'slip over the edge and pass on through the 'gate opening without imparting., any motion to the gate member. I provde means for ovcrcon'ing this tendency to slip when the detector finger engages only the upper edge of the gate opening. This means would preferably take the form of a dog or latch member`46, pivoted on the gnte member' at point 47, the point of the dog protruding slightly into the gte opening of the member, and in fact constituting one edge of such gate opening (see Fig 10). The dog has an inclined surface 48 extending inward from the point thereof. A slight deflection from the true path of the detector finger will cause it to to the ;rate member, thereby setting in action the stop motion, signal device, or whatever it may be. The position of the point of the dog may he adjusted with respect to the gate opening by means of a set screw 49 and a pin 50, working in a slot 51 in the dog. or other equivalent deyice isgused to limit the swin 'ng motion of the dog. The point of ,the og illustrated, forms the lower boundary of the gate opening and remains in its normal inoperative position by reason of its own weight. If, however, an

additonal dog were used to form the opposite boundary of the te opening, as or other equivalent evice would progbly be necessary to hold the said' dog up inits normal inoperative position. This modification is such an obvious one that its illust tio is consider-ed unnecessary. z' ?he automatic or self-adjusting principle may. o'f course. he applied t different t pas of signature gathering or sheet han lilg machines. Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate this'prnoo viple as applied to several different types of signature gathering: machines.

Iu thetype of machine (known as'tho Plimptou & `Lewis) shown in Fig. 3, the

sgnature pas es between the gripper roll 52 105 and the deteetor roll 53, which is ca'red by the augular le\'er 54, the lever being pivoted at' the point The lever has an abutmentmember usually in the shane of i screw 56 at its opposite end, and this'serew or abut: -o

ment member has a hearing on the detector arm 57. 'l'he detector arm is pivotally supported on the stationary bracket 58 and the spring: 59 connected between fixed part and the extended end 60 of the detector arm r,

serves to hold the detector arm up in engagement with the abutment member on the lover 54. A gage device in the form of relatively fixed and 'pivoted jaws 61 and ,62 is provided as before and the gage si is held in these jaws. The pivoted aw has a prolongation 63 carrying on its end the ,Late member 64. The gage device is `carried hy an arm (35, which is mounted on a rock shaft (36, the rockshaft being journaled 125 in the frame of the uaehine and oscillnted by any suitable means, such as a cam. The action of this machine is as follows: x\ sig nature ot' the 'proper size is insertei between After the lateh member has thus i finger will impart a swinging movement..

stare the jau-s of the gege device, the "hickuess 2130 'provided with double contact points 98. The 'tower of the delivery rolls is relatively atationary while the upper roll is carried by c tower end of the angular lever 99 which pivoted on the center 100. The up- .i of the lover 99 is connected by link o a, hell crank member 102, also pivt on the center 97, and this bell crank naar has a pair of contact points 103, disposel opposite the contact points 98. This pivot center 97 may simply be a shaft, as

shown, on which both the parts 96 and 102 are locsely mounted. lt "will be seen that this iast member forms the gote memr the detector mcchanisnn while the arrying the inncr contact points 98 'the tietector ting'er or trip member of or n'eehanism. The contact points intermttcntly connected with 2 electricity at the timc a signaturi ce ol clcctricity will consist of suitcontact mcchanism. such as a rotatable her 104. shown in Fig. 7, which .i with a suitable source of elecsupply 103. 'the operation WE this u:: in as 'follows: .X signature of the ai-sixe is placed between the jaws or ihc gagc dcvicc and the contact pt ints ot the dctnctor mecha'is'n are given n. rcrin downward dccctiou. Tf. the sig 'nature passing between the tlelivcxjv 'ons ot iic same thicltncss, the zage member tfi Wil :i mrrospcnding lownward defic tim. "the ontact points 103 arradjusted that when the signature in the gage dei'ice i ti livei'y devicc are of the same hiz'kma s the contact points 98 will be just mi u' nu agcuent with the contact points ot the nate meniher. li'. howcvc', there is :my rn'ian'c in the size ot' the gage signa turtand` the `-ignatrc passing between the h iir' r l'Ullr' onc of the -.'nta'ts 98 will en- ;arc one ot the ontacts ma of th( gate nmnhc'. the contact 10 being connected with the clevtrir-a! .source ai. this :moment by n'n'nns ot a switch dcwice such :s that shown in l i .Thon when this contact is made the cin Nation of a switch. magnctic clutch, or like dcvice, either to stop the machine or to give notice of the ahnor'nal condition.

The dcvice (known as the Sague machine) illustratcd in Eig.;6 is quite similarfto that just dcscrihedi ,Here the gage signature is placed between the rclativcly fixed jaw mc and the rclativcly movahle jaw '107. The movahlejau is pivotcd on the center 108 and is m'e-titled at its uppcr end with a gatu extension 109, carrying the contact points 110, f'mning a gate between which the Ptl 'ilht points 111 on the lGVCl' 112 are ariapted to ilu'atc. The lover '1.12 is pivotcd on the same center 108 and carrics at its tii) nd he passing through the deiivery rolls; means tor connecting these points wthnit' will'hc complete to cause the ac-- lower end a dlivery roll 113, coperating with the relat-ively stationary dclivery roll in this machine are intermittently connected' with an electrcal source in the same nanner as the machine shown in Fig. 5, prefcrably by means of a switch device like that shown in Fig. 7.

As was stated in the prcamble to the spccification there is a certain inherent Variation in the thickncss of all paper. I provide means for compensating for this inherent variatiom-so that while the machine will hc causcd to stop o to give indication when there is any variation in the thickncss of the signature itself, as when one omore shcets are missing, the machine will not be caused to stop simply on account of this very slght inherent variation in the thiclmess of the shects. I accomplish this result prcferably by making the gate nenber in two parts 115 and 116, which are pivotcd on the common center 117 carred by the signal arm 18. (Sec Fig. 8.) The opposing edges' 118 of the two pltcs constitutc the gate opening between which the detcctor finger passes when conditions lare normal. Each of the gote parts is provided with an hxtension 119, servin in the capacity of`a lver for moving te gate part, one of sa id extensions being longer than the other. T ue gate' member may be adjusted either automatically or by hand, as desired. The -automaticadjustment is the referred one, however, and it is illustrated n Fig. 8. Tlcre are shown the relatively fixed and movahle gripper jaws 120 an llof the gage device, as before, and the movahle gege jaw has a cam extension 122, which beats against both the extensions of the two gto parts (the whole gage device is here carried by the signal arm, the same as in Fig. 1). A signature of the desired thicknoss is placed in the jaws of the gage dev'oe nd asthc cam extension of the movable jaw bca-s on both the extensions of the two gote parts, both gate parte are moved bodily u ward. On account of the diflerence in t e length of the extensions, however, one of dhe gati` parts is moved a greater distance than the other. As has ,been before explaincd, the dctector finger is deflected a distance directly proportionate. to the t-hicknesh* of the signature in the gripper jaws. The p-oportion of the extensions or levelarms 119 o't' the gote parts is preferably its 'in the thiekness of the paper.

tures are being handled, SO as to allow for the combined variatons in the greater number of leaves. By reason of this eon'ipen satng adjustment ot the gate parts a eertain latitude is allowed the deteetor tinger in its passage through the gate and the detector meohnnism Wlll not he rendered active due to any slight'inherent variation ;i sliglt modification of this COIHPQIlSfltlIIg neehanism is illustrated in 9, wherein the extensions 123 of the two gate parts are shown provided with adjuslahle ahutments or hearing points. 1%. These atjnstahle ahutments are carried on the bolts or studs 125 and are adapted to he engagetlhythe cam extension 126 of the movahle ege jan in the same manner as just described: Here by means ot these adjustable ahutments the two gate parte may he acljusted with respect toeaeh other. i

When the gripping surface of tik) gage jaws is rounded or curved, the snrtaee hearing upon the signature is of eonparatirely slight areafancl there would he a tendeney tosqueeze the signature and compress it to a certain extent. To overcome this tendeney .of the jaws to compress the signature I may make the jaws as shown in Fig. 14. Here one ot' the jaws has a flat grpping surface, 12 and the otherjaw consists ot' a gripping n'ember 128, having arorresgmuling flat grppng surface, this grppng member being provided on the end ot' the jnw member 129. ln this way a eomparatively large gripping surface is provided so that the signature is firmly held in the grip ot' the jaws without squeezing or compressing the same.

I. do not wish to confine myself to the .precise Construction and relation of the parts shown and it will he understoud that the various 'features ot' the invention may he employed wherever praetieahle.

W'hat is elaimeth is:

1. The comhination with two signature ealipering devices, ot meehanisn controlled by said devices for deteeting a difference in the thiekness of 'the sign'tures held in the two devices.

2. The eomhination with signature calithepering devices ot' meehanism tor deteetine* any difference in the thickness of the sie; a tures in the signature ealiperingj devil-es, and eonnections between the signs ire enlipering devices and deteetor nr -.-,a.

3. The combination With a signature helding deviee, a signature handling deviun and means for Operating the signature handinr i MESS.

terent predeternined thieknesses.

device, ot cleteotor meehanism controlled hy the signature holding and hmdling de- 'vi:es, and connections from th' -cletector meehanisn `wherehy the Operating means will he rendered inoperative When the signatures in the holding cleviee and the handling (leviee diller in thickness.

et. Detector meehanism eomprising two deteetor members movably related to each other, and Operating normally free ot each other, two members adapted each to-receive andaaliper a thiekness ot' material, and eonneetions from the holding members whereby the deteetor members will remain free of each other when the thiclmess of the material held by' the two members is the strne, and will be brought into operative engagement with each other when the thickness of the material in the two holding members is different.

*5. The' eombination with a. sheet handling deviee, of means for detecting any variation from a precletermined thieltness in the thiekness ot the sheets handled by the sheet handling tleviee; and holding means adapted to receive a sheet ot' the proper thiekness and connected with the detector means to adjust the deteetor means to sheets of dit'- G. The eonhination with a sheet delivery device, of (lQlGCC-l' meehanism associated tlerewith. and ealipering means aclapted to receive a sheet ot' the properthiekness and connected with the deteetor mechanism for adjusting the detector neehanism to sheets of different thiekness.

7. Theecnhination with a signature delirery cleviee and means foroperating the same ot cleteetor meehanism assoeiated with the signature clelivery (lerice adapted to deteet any variation in the thickness ot' the signatures'handled h the delivery deviee :from a predetermined thiek-ness, and means` adapted to receive a signature of the prede ternnned thielrness and adapted therehy to hljut' the deteetor mechansm to (leter-t variations froni such predetermined thiel:- and eonneetons from the deteetof e 1 n'ieehan'sm ter renoerng tne Operating means inoperative when there is any vari-a:

. tion ta' the thiehness of the signatures handied by the delivery dentro.`

55 In e'znhimtinn with a deteetcr meam 'nism whereby 'said parte will be properly related when the signatures in the delivery and holding devices are of the sane tlcklvery device and meansfor Operating the same, of means for holding and calpermg 10, The conbination with: a signature dea signature, detector nechanism comprising i members relatively stationary and movable with respect toeaoh other under normal conditions and normally Operating free' of each other, connections from the delivery device and holdin means `for positioning the' relative! bers of the d etector mechanism so that when the si natures in the delivery device and the h ding means are of the-same thickness the parts ofthe detector mechanism will be positioned to remain free of each other. i

11, The comhinatien with a signature delivery device and, means for Operating the same, of means forholding and calipering a signature, .detectorfmechanism conprising members relatively stationary and movable with respect to each other under normal conditions and normally Operating free of each other, eonnections from the delivery device and holding means "for positioning the relatively movable and statimary parts of thedetector mechanisn so that when the signatures 'in the delive-y device and the holding means are of the same thickness the parte of the detector mechanism will he properl other, tie detet-tor mechanism acting when the signatures in the delivery device and holding means differ in thickness, to render the Operating means for the delivery device inoperative.

12. A' signature handling device and means for Operating the same, detector mechanism exercising a control over the O)- erating means and comprising two rclatively movable parts which under normal conditions whcnproperly positioned with respect to each other are free of each other, a signature holding device, and eonnections .from

the signature handling and signature hold ing devices adapted when the signatures in the two devices are of the same thi'clrness to properly position the parts of the detector nieehanism to be free of each oth'er, and when the said signatures diifer in thickness, to position the 'parts of the detecter mechanism to engage each other, and the detector riechanis n adapted when the signatures dilter in thiclmess to interrupt the operation oi? `the Operating means.

13, in eonibination with agripper and means for aetuutug the same, nechanism mova le and stationary men-.

positioned with respect to each v i adapted to detect any variation from a redetermined thickness of material han led by the ceive a t ickness of material and to thereby adapt the detector nechanism to detect any `varation from such thickness of material handled by the gripper.

14. The combination with a pair of gri pers for holding material, of detector mee anism adapted to control the operation of the machine and normally operative for that purpose, and connections ,from the grippers to the detector meclanisn whereby the detector mechanism will enain inoperative when the thickness of material in both the gm'ppers is the same.

15. The combination with a pair of signature grippers, and means for' actuati'ng one of the grppers to cause the same to deliver signatures, of detector mechanisn under control of the grippes adapted to control the operation of the machine and normally inoperative to control the operation of the nachine when the thickness of material in both the grippe's is the same, but rendered operative when the` thickness of signatures in the two grippers is different.

16. The combination with a pair'of signa ture grippers, and means for actuatingone of the grippers to cause the same to delivcr signatures, ot' dctector nechanism under control of the grippers, normally inoperative when the thickness of material in both the grippers is the same, but rendered operative when the thiekness of signature in the two grippers is different, the detector nechanisn when thus operative, adapted to interrupt the operation of the actuating means.

1.7. In combinaton with a signature gripper for handling sheets or signatures and means for Operating the same, detector mechanism comprising a gate member `provided with a gate opening and a detector member adapted to pass through the gate opening when the signatures liandled by the gripper are of a certain predeternined thickness, and means adapted to receive a signa ture and to thereby adjust one of the members of the detcctor neehanism so that said mechanism will detect any variation in the thickness of the signatures handled by the gripper from the p'edetermined thickness.

18. In comhination with a signature gripper, and detector 'meehanism associatgd therewith, a gege device adapted to receive a signature and connected with the detector mechanisn to adjust the detector mechanism to deteet any variation in the thickne'ss of the signature handled by the gripper from the thiekness of the signature in the gage device. i

19. In combination witha signature gripper, detector mechanism comprising two rel atively movahle members? a gege device adapted to reeei've e thiekneea of material.`

ripper, and means adapted to recomhination With two signature hoiding de- VQS, ef mechsnism controiied by said hoh& ing devices for detecting a rliiierencc in the thickness of the signatures held in the two holding devices, and stop mechanism for in terrupting the operation of the machine -under the control of the detectihg mechunism.

44-. In a signature gathering machine, detector mechansm comprsing members 3, 31." justable With respect to each other Vide a gets cgening therei'etween, u detectcr nger for-passage through the seid gate opening, means for pcsitioning the gate members to adjust the gete opening With respect to the detector finger fer handling different thicknesses of signature& and. means for proportonateiy increzising the size of the gatc opening When adjusting the i gate members for signawres of larger size.

45. In a signature gethering machine, e signature handling device ,and detectcr mechanism'asseciated With the seine comprisng e movabie detectcr nger, members relativeiy edjustabie to provide a. gat& opening thcren fer the passage of the detectcr finger, means for adjusting seid members wth respect i'c the detectcr finger fer handling signatures of different thicknesses, endi means for increesing the. size ef 'the gete epeningin prop ortion te the thiekness of sgntures to he hanleci.

46. In e' signature gethering machine, e

nature, a signature hendiing cievice, e "lifi" tector iger positicnezi according 'to the thickness of the signature in the heniiing device e gate member cemprising 'wc'reiw tivcly ajastable perts space& te prcvide e gete opening therehetween er the essage of the detector finger, and conncctions frcm the gege device for verisbly positicning the gate parte With respect to each other according to the thickncss of signature' held in the gege device.

47. In a signature gatherng machine, a gege device adapted to hold a standard signature, a signature handiing device, a detectcr finger positions& according to the thickness of the signature in 'the handling device, a gate member cenprising two re1ativeiy ajustable parts space& to provide a gate cpeningtherebetwcen for the passage of the detecter finger, the seid gete parte having laver arms of difierent lengths, and a positioning iever eng-aging the lever arms of the gate paris and positioned according te the thickness of signature heid 'in the gege evice.

4:8. In u signature gathering machine, a piumlity of signature hoppers, e grippe' asscciatcd With each of said hoppers,'detectcr mechensm fer each of the grippers, and e device adapted to receive and hold e st nard signature operativcly connected With the detectcr mechanism of' each gripper.

49. ?in a signature-gathering machine, the cmnhnatien with the signature-hcppers, and grippers for withdrawing the signatnres from such hoppers, of tecter-mechnnism arrenged to detect e variation in the thickness ef material taken by the grppers from a standard thickness, and means fer eutomatieaiiy ajusting said detector mechanism te detect variations from difierent pred- .termined thcknesses of material.

50., In e. signature gethering machine, the eembineticn Withe signature gripper, and rietector mechensm having connection with the gripper se es te detect varietions in the thicrness ei" signatures' taken by the grip per from 'e stener ti'iicimess and euto- ?3 .matcaiy o'ereted means for edgust'ng the pars 'te cperete &ipen different. ste'htierd thicirnesses ,of material.

Si 1 e in the hei-eu h ef Manhattan cit w Ycrhin the ceunty of New York .me State ef New York this 16th day of Femer [s D, 1909. v i CHARLES A. JUENGST.

`Ti'c-nesees:

' PFIHP S. MGLEAN,

CHA. BEHRMAN. 

